MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year

The MSU Department of Animal Science has been recognizing outstanding Michigan dairy farmers since 1958, and the MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed by the department. The Department selects a person or persons (dairy farmer) who has exhibited outstanding (1) management of their dairy farm business and (2) leadership in the Michigan dairy industry from a pool of nominees.

Dairy Farmer of the Year Nominations

The MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Department of Animal Science to individuals in the dairy industry. It is presented annually to a dairy farmer to recognize the recipient(s) ongoing efforts at managing an outstanding dairy operation and strengthening the Michigan dairy industry and their surrounding communities. Recipients are respected by their peers, neighbors and industry as outstanding herd managers and dairy leaders at the local, state and/or national levels.

Award nominees may be individuals, partnerships or multi-generation family partnerships. A team made up of faculty members and Extension educators select the honoree based on commitment to their operation and contributions to the dairy industry. The winner’s portrait will be added to the display featuring previous winners at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education.

Nominations for the MSU Dairy Farmer of the Year Award are open around late summer on this page. The deadline to submit nominations is usually November 1. Nominations can be submitted by producers, family members, professionals, agri-business firms or other individuals.